Fly swatter



Patented Oct. 30, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 17 Claims.

' Ihe present invention relates to fly swatters.`

Fly swatters as heretofore constructed of wire or fabric netting, perforated sheet rubber or other similar materials often crushed a fly so much upon killing it that an ugly objectionable spot of blood or body matter was left on the `surface on which the fly was resting. This kind of spot is especially objectionable on a light colored wall, table cloth or curtain, and is usually difficult to remove.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a fly swatter that can be used effectively to kill or stun a fly without crushing it whereby a fly ,resting on a light colored surface can be killed without fear of causing an objectionable bloody spot.

I have found thata perforated slab or sheet of suitablesoft material such asv soft sponge rubber can be used satisfactorily to kill or stun a ily without crushing it. However, a thin slab of such materialis usually so limp that when fastened to one end of a vhandle asa ap it will flop over on one side or the other so much that itis dili'icult to strike an accurate blow at a fly with it. While a thin slabof rubber sufficiently soft to kill a fly withoutcrushing it is too exible or limp when used alone as a fly swatter flap, a certain amount of flexibility in a fly swatter flap is essential for reasons well known to those skilled in the art.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of stiifening means having a `satisfactory flexibility which is suited to be inclosed between two thin slabs of-soft material such as sponge rubber which constitute the flap of a ny swatter without noticeably increasing its over all thickness or preventing the slabs from being securely cemented together back to back.

A further object of my invention is to provide i fly swatters of improved appearance which can be readily made in different fast colors, and which can be easily cleaned."

Ordinary porous sponge rubber soft enough to kill a ily without crushing it is well suited in most respects for fly swatter flaps but such rubber usually has physical characteristics whereby a relatively thin slab of it if fastened directly to a usual small, stiff handle tends to break or tear olf in use. To'provide satisfactory means for securely fastening a thin slab of porous sponge rubber on the end of a fly swatter handle is another object of my invention. In accomplishing this and other objects of my invention, it is a feature of the invention to secure the sponge rubber slab strongly to a fastening and stiifening means having a larger surface area than an equal length of the handle, and to secure the stiffening means to the end of a handle member, whereby the sponge rubber is not subjected to severe rupturing strains when a blow is struck with the fly swatter.

Another feature of my invention resides in the provision of a wire netting stifening means in a sponge rubber ily swatter arranged with a mesh which enables the small flexible interwoven wires to cooperatively brace and stiffen each other and which also permits sponge rubber slabs to be securely cemented together back to back with the netting between them. Such a stiffening means is well suited for use with slabs of other flap material such as soft, open fibre felt.

Another feature of my invention resides in the provision of a resilient spring stiifening means for a sponge rubber fly swatter flap which permits the flap of the swatter to be bent to approximately the same extent as could be done were the stiffening means omitted.

Another feature of my invention resides in the provision of improved means and methods for fastening a soft piece of sponge rubber on a much smaller metal member so that the sponge rubber piece is held in operative position on the member with sufficient firmness and rigidity to prevent wobbling of the rubber piece relative to the metal member when the two elements are moved together vrapidly as they would be when used, for example, as a flap and handle of a fly swatter.

Another feature of my invention resides in the provision of means for operatively fastening a ily swatter flap of sponge rubber to a suitable handle so as to leave each work face of the flap as a substantial plane, i. e. flat area.

Other features and advantages will appear hereinafter.

The present application is a continuation in part of application Serial Number 550,715, filed July 14, 1931 for Letters Patent on improvements in Fly swatters.

Referring to the drawing which forms a part of the specification: Figure 1 is a partial front elevational view of a sponge rubber ily swatter embodying my invention. In this view, part of the sponge rubber facing element is shown broken away to better illustrate the construction of the fly swatter. Figure `2 is a cross-section along the line 2 2 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a partial front elevational view of another form of sponge rubber fly swatter embodying my invention. In this view, as in Figure 1, part of the sponge rubber facing element is shown broken away to more u Clearly illustrate the construction of the ily swatter. Figure 4 is an upper end view of the structure shown inFigure 3. Figure 5 is a partial cross-section on an enlarged scale taken along the line 5 5 of Figure 3. Figure 6 is a partial 5 enlarged cross-section similar to Figure 5, and illustrates another construction of a fly swatter flap embodying my invention. Figure '7 is a partial front elevational view of a sponge rubber ny swatter rembodying myinvention wherein a'stiifening means is used for the sponge :rubber flap that is different from the stiiening means disclosed in Figure 3. Figure 8 is a partial crosssection taken along the line 8-8 of Figure 7. Fig-` ure 9 is a cross-section on an enlarged scale taken along the line 9 9 of Figure 7. Figure I0' is la partial front elevational View illustratinganother embodiment of my invention.

According to one way invention. mayzbecarried out, a flap F may comprise twoslabs 0r.

sheets 3 and 3 of soit sponge rubber secured togetherwback to back, by. cementing or ,vulcanizingdnethods `well knowninthe rubber art. Each slab issecured tightlyagainsta flexible wire stiftener, y4,dispos.edbetweenthe slabs. .A handle H maybe constructed. of,- a length of suitable wire formed rras iindicatedin .Figure 1y or .in any i other suitable wellknownway tohaveftwoend portions ofi-.the .wiredisposed between `the slabs 3 and 3. The ends .of lthe ewirezstiener- Lhare securely tias- 30, tened to the-fonds yosthewire .in the handle lI-l. The fastening operation `,may lbe `performed Aby Well known welding or soldering methods so as to render. thewire member 4, inieffectfan integral extensionfof the wire inthehandle H. If desired,

35.v the end portions ofthe-wire handle H, which are ordinarilyofflarger: diameter thanithe wire 4-may each be formed with; a` short: lengthwise -bore or recessfinto which recesses short y`end portions of the-Wire-Amay .be-inserted andfthe surrounding portionszofthe larger ,Wireof the -handlemay be crimped or mashed tightly about;the-inserted-portionsfof :the-wire4;V Suitableholes Gthrough the flap arelprovided-to-decreaselany tendency of the-flap to cause-a-draft WhenitissWung-at a ny 'orother-,insect Tneslabss-B and-.3aeachfispreferably constructeditoihavefairindfor skin .element- 7. These skin elements-'aree aliuttedy against-each other with-the wire 4disposed therebetween Awhenthe slabsvare A cementedf or lvulcanizedftogetheras noted hereinbefore.' fSuchaniarrangement-ofithe skins f'liabutting each :other: on'y oppositefsides'of :thefstiffener 4I very advantageous since-:it :makes ifor stronger. ioininggpf they slabs 3f and: 3-, to4 each gother, eandea :stronger fasteningfof ,the Ailap 'to the stifiener 4 and,- in=eiect=,to thehandlel-I than would-.ordinarily--be:secured inthe -v skin :elements 7 were omitted. In Figure 2, the skin; elements 7 Iare;shrnv-n slightly separatedstobetterzillustrate .their:relation.` to #the wire stiffener 4.

.The-arrangement ont-hrerrindzelencents '7 as de.- scribed above provides still anothen important advantage; Theyserve'toprovide;additional-stiffeninggfmeansfior the flap-F; Suchstiening ef- -fectzasiis obtainedrbecause ofv'the skin'elements 7' isi caused partlyrbythej action .ofY the Iskin V.elements alone; and; partly bygithe; `coaction o5y the skin elementsandithesstiener.

sponge-rubberthau if desired, theskinelements 'l imayme. made-i of ,acmaterialthickness such as will add :considerable .stiffness i to` the flap F. It

canfheireadily-.fseen :thatthe stiffener 4 ,need not;

frubbenhaving small pores or cells. For striking ltwill be understood by thoseiskilled1in-,the production and the `use of where thicker and stiffer rind elements 7 are provided.

The outer faces of the slabs 3 and 3 in most cases will have no skin elements, which construction usually makes for a more attract-ive appear- 9U ance of the flap and also decreases to some extent the tendency of the flap to create a draft ahead of it when swung at a fly or other insect.

In another form my invention may take, a fly swatter withfa flap or body elementigenerally designated as 10 is preferably made up in two parts 11 and'l'Z which may be duplicates of each other except as hereinafter noted. These body parts will preferably be made of light weight soft sponge a. fly (not shown) with the flap 10, a handle is provided which may include a usual round piece of ,woodr 13 connected @with the flap 10 by devices including one or more stili wire members 14 which may'have two end portions 15 embedded in the handle-`piece .1-3 .ina well known way.

The-,upper end ofthe wire14 maybe `arranged inatriangular form or. portion lasillustrated inFigure 3 to A, correspond. with.4 and be -inclosed inaskirtlike or lowerportion -lsoi thebody or 1.30 nap ,10. Itis desirableftosecurely fasten the limp, spongeirubber-iiapil to .thestif ,wire 1.4 lay-:means` which will normally hold the fiapapproxim-ately in [the-same plane as the `.wire 1.4 whileleaving .the flap with some exibility. To attain these ends, .I 35 fold-lower corner .portions,.1.7 of .a 4rectangular section-.of flexible wire netting Nabont ,the triangular w-ireform 16. The folded over portions ifi-'maybefastenedto the adjoining portionof the nettingsby a ,wire clip (not shown) orA other wenn@ known instrumentalities. Such fastening instrlnnentalities; will ordinarily .not be4 required however, as williappearhereinafter.

rFor agpurptosefto presently` appear, the netting Nuwill preferably havealmesh as largeor larger 3 5 thantheemeshiof. metallic wire netting commonly usedlinfilyrswatters. It will be understood that netting :ofi other ,materiali than metallic Vwire can bezused as a stiffener in practicing. my invention.

Theishapesfand vareas-oi the flap parts 11 and im 12-will2bes11ch that when theyare centrally positionedwithrespect to the netting N, one against each side of it,fthe,edgesV of the apparts 1land 12V will extendout at all pointsa considerable distance beyond the edges of the netting Nthus .15 fully concealing l,the latter along its edges. This distance between an-edge-of thenetting and the adjacentl edge of-the swatter'will be'vpreierably not less than` the thickness of the swatter and may -bey several. times this thickness. In .some 5M cases, .the-netting-N-may bev omitted entirely and thetriangul'ar portionl-enlarged and. extended further up intothe flap. In such cases, it may be desirable .toflatten ythe wire portion 1,6 to` some extent itthe Wirehandle i-s madeirom 4usualmli.-i round-wire.

Each of the sponge rubber flappartsll and l2 will have-a plurality of closely spaced holes or apertures'lSl extending entirely through it. The diameter of the holes 18 will preferably be less im than Ithe length of an ordinary house fly. A plurality of closely spaced holes 19 smallerthan the holes -18=rnaybe providedalong .the side-edges of. the flap. Whenthe two ilap rparte 11 and 12 are properly placed with respect t0- each other the holes 18 and 19 in the part 11 will register withzcor-responding holes 12S-and 19 inthe part 1-2. When thuspositioned the parts 11 and l2 mayA be` cemented together at all contacting-,points yby v any-kind of .-suitablecement or glue or. by .vulcanizving in a well known way. The parts will preferably be pressed together firmly enough sothat a small portion of the flap part 11 will be brought into engagement with a corresponding portion of the flap ypart 12 through substantially each and every mesh opening of the netting N. Care should be taken that all portions of one iiap part which extend out beyond the netting N should be securely cemented to corresponding contacting portions of the other iiap part.

When the parts 11 and 12 are properly cemented together the holes 18 and 19 will extend all the waythrough the iiap 10 of the iiy swatter and prevent the latter from acting as a fan and creating a draft of air ahead of it to warn a fly or even blow the fly out of the range of the fly swatter. It has been found in practice however, that an unperforated sponge rubberflap creates less draft than the same size flap of smooth material like paper, and also that flies can be effectively hit by a small unperforated sponge rubber flap when it is suitably stiffened and mounted on a suitable handle.

Portions of the netting N may appear in some or all of the holes 18 but this will not appreciably close the holes to the passage of air through them since the individual wires of the netting are ordinarily relatively fine as compared to the diameter of the holes. The diameter of a hole 18 is quite small however, and the portions of the wire netting N exposed in the holes 18 cannot scratch or mar a surface or object struck by the fly swatter. To the same end, the hand piece 13 will preferably be made of soft wood or other4 suitable soft material, and the wires 14'may be covered or sheathed swatter.` The use of such wire netting in combination with vthe sponge rubber flap parts on each side of it is also advantageous because of permitting `the iiap parts when cemented together to grip the netting to the wire part 16.

,As indicated in Figure 5, the body part 11 may 4be made of a differently colored sponge rubber from that of the body part 12. As can be readily seen by those skilled in the manufacture of sponge rubberV fly swatters embodying my invention can be conveniently and economically made in several different and fast colors and such fly swatters can be easily 4cleaned with water and ordinary soap.

As illustrated in Figure 6, a fly swatter embodying my invention may have its flap constructed of one slab 11 of soft sponge rubber and the other slab 12' of a soft fibrous material such as felt,

these slabs being secured together, back to back, witha netting stiffener N' between them.

.The slab 12 may comprise a soft slab or pad of fabric made of minute elastic fibers or hairlike threads which fibers consist largely of a rubberlike substance. Under certain conditions of manufacture and use itmay be advantageous to make both the slab 11' and the slab 12' of soft felt or like vmaterial whichY is inexpensive and relatively permanent.

' 'Another way my invention may be carried out is illustrated in Figures 7, 8, and 9.' A perforated sponge rubber fly swatter flap generally designated as A is made up of two light body parts 31 and 32 each having a plurality of closely spaced holes or apertures 33 extending through it. The flap 30 is detachably fastened to a wood handle 34 by devices which include male threads provided in one end portion of the handle for engagement in female threads 35 formed in one end of a metallic tubular member 36. Owing to the softness and compressibility of the body parts 31 and 32, and flattening of the member 36 tightly gripped between the body parts, the work faces of the flap will be bulged out only a slight extent as is indicated at 36 in Figure 9. This construction leaves the work faces of the fly swatter very nearly plane surfaces which is desirable, especiallyvwhere small insects like gnats are to be killed with the swatter. The opposite end of the member 36 is fastened to a U-shaped middle section 37 of a coil spring stiffening member 38.

A secure and inexpensive fastening between the member 36 and the spring member 38 can be made by pressing the end of the tubular member flat with the U-shaped section 37 inside of it as indicated in Figures 7 and 9.

For receiving the outer coil portions of the stiffening member 38, the flap parts 3l and 32 may be formed with half round grooves 40 and l1 respectively in their inner faces (see Figure 8). When the parts 3l and 32 are properly joined the grooves 40 and 41 will register with each other and form concealed passage ways for the outer ends of the stiffening member 38 as indicated in Figure 8. The coiled outer ends of the stiffening member 38 will preferably be close wound and as small as is practicable but will be slightly opened when bent to lie in the curved pas- -L sage ways shown in Figure 7. The degree of the will be noted that a portion of the flattened upper end of the tubular member 36 is disposed between the flap parts 31 and 32 which helps to hold the ap 30 normally in alignment with the handle 34. It can be seen that the y swatter flap illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 can be bent or twisted without injury almost as much as a single piece of sponge rubber.

In Figure 10 is illustrated anotherembodiment of my invention. A fly swatter flap having apertures 51 may be essentially like the flap 30 and may be fastened to a wire handle member 52 of well known construrtion made of plain steel wire with a spread or widened portion which affords a better grip on the handle and also permits the swatter to be hung on a wall so that the flap 50 will lie flat against the wall. If desired the diameter of the wires in the handle 52 may be decreased and a greater number of more flexible wires can be twisted together to form the stiffening portions 53 need not be coiled if they are made from sufficiently iiexible wire.

If desired, the form of my fly swatter illustrated in Figure 1 or in Figure 3 can be easily arranged forifu'se '.withlsardetachable.handle in the way disclosed:in5Figure-t11?; .'Aalso', asf can .berreadif-I ly seen, t'hefffly Kswatter illustrated: Figures l.

ufacture ofthe-sponge rubber, When/.apiece of .it is i molded, .fasr the flap'fportions ,31. and 32 would ordinarily be madefsucha spongerubber piece is formediwithian outenmembrane orrind; It'fcanv be readily :seen that thefaps ofi Eigures 3 vand '7 when constructed .as-set; forthhereinbefore will have a vdouble .thickness of rind or membraney disposedv between the .flapf orr'body portions. 'I'his construction-affordsza number o'f advantages. The.

flap portions canbe :secured to each other more stronglyand. atxa less expensezif cement is..used. A. more uniform andstronger attachment of the body; portions :to .the inclosed Vstifening 'means is secured.. Therind portions cooperatewithzthe inclosedfstiening meansv to increase the stiff'- ness of. the flap. Such rind portions as arementioned above are indicated at :Rin Figure 9.

For striking accurate -blows at a ily, yit is important that .the-'flap ,of 'a fly swatter be secured to the-.handle with such.v rmness that the contacting. portions-of the flap and handle are held in relatively'iixed relation, one to the other. For reasons welllmown to those skilled in the working of sponge rubber, the usual methods of fasn tening an ordinary piece of soft rubber to a metal member .are lnot suitable for use with cellular sponge rubber. A firm` fastening of a yielding sponge-Y' rubber flap member on a metal handle member is'secured,accordingto my invention, in

the way described above in connection with the ily swatter structures of Figures l, 3 and 7, by using. .thewrinds for gripping the member.

Ina fly swatter constructed according to the form of my invention illustrated in Figure 3, the wire nettingfN which serves as a kind of core or frame is bracedand tightenedby the sponge rubber'slab on either. side which it serves to stifien.v This resultnisn attained'because of the rubber slab ,being pressed against opposite sides of the netting toforce portions of one slab through the mesh openings of the netting into Contact with portions ofthe other slab. This pressure causes vthe interwoven wires of the netting to bind against each other vmore firmly. Also the edge portions of the netting do not need binding or edging of .the Yusual kind to prevent thel wires from becoming unwoven-and loosened. Thus the wirenetting'is enabled to give better and longer .service in holding the limp sponge rubber slabs in an approximately `lat'condition on the end of the'handle for striking'eifectively ata fly.

In using -my fiy swatter, the fly struck by its soft body'or flap willfsometimes only be stunned and shouldbe picked' up and disposed of before it. recovers from the blow.

Variations may beresorted. to within the scope ofthe invention, and portions of. the improvements may be used without others.

lHaving-.thus describediny invention,.I claim:

1. In a y swatter, in combination, a handle' a iiap composed ofk two slabs'of soft'spongel rubber cementedtogether, Va flexible stiifener stronger than said slabs fastenedy to said handle at yone end thereof, rsaid stiffener being embedded 'be tween said slabs and said slabs being secured to said stiffenersothat. impact strains coming on said slabs are transmitted to said stiffener over large areas ofsaidslabsv wherebyfthe danger of such strains rupturing .-sai'd., slabs' .is decreased'.

.2;detachable'fap device for afiy swatter handle, said .flap device fincludingtwo slabsof soft .sponge rubber, one offsaidslabs-'being' 'dis-f posed. againstA fthe other, fface' toface, and cemented thereto; a stiffener-more flexible than said handle disposedbetween said slab; Land"i handle-attaching meansV including a .portion thinner than said :flap device, engaging -said'` stiifener between said' slabs, andr -a lreleasabl'ehandle-fastening portion stiffer.V than saidstiffener secured to said; thin portion -an'df extending outwardly therefrom:

3: Al ily swatter including a lhandle,- -a llimp sponge rubber body, andra exible vwire =ne`t tingstiifer than said bodyffastened to sand handle and? embeddedy inlfsaid'fbody' intermediate itsv sides.

4'. fAHfl'y swatter :including alliandle, a'fflapbf soft' sponge'rubber, means for stiiening said A'flap including one yor morel resilient wire ymembers tightly l enclosedlinf said'fflap, and;l devices for detachably fastening said" handle k-to said members'.

5. A iiy swatter including a flap of soft sponge rubber, a wire-handle-,- and"stiffening'meansfor saidv flap .includingtone yor more integral Aextensions of saidhandleformed in one or'more resillient -coils and'fftightly fencased inlsaid flap.

` v'6'. 'A flyswatter, comprising Aa handle and af flap said`l lhandle'liavingan end received withinV said' flap; 'said flap 'being formed of? flexible sponge -rubber, :having a portion embracing saidend and-'having said portion vulcanized 'in-- tegralfaboutsaidfend, toholdisaidiiap`| assembled on saidwhandle; and saidfly swatter comprising meansiforholding said nap operativelyr extended;

and said means includi'ngla stiifeni'ngfinsertpro jecting i beyond said'` end;

"7'. A, ily fswatteriin'c'luding a handle, -a soft sponge rubber flap, and s'tiifeningIdevices more flexible than said-handle effective -for stiffening said flap and for fastening riton-said handle.

8'; "ily swatterr including a handle, a thin, limber sponge rubberiiap, and stiifening means terminatingrs'hort of 'the outer endofsaid "flap for lholding Asaid-.flap on an end'of sa-idfhandle in.

operative extended Vrelation thereto while said fl'api's 'being swung quickly on said handle :at a fly.

9; A' fly swatter, comprising a Vhandle and-a iiap 'rml'yrsecured on-'anrendof saidv vhandle to extend'therebeyond; vsaid" flapbeing formed of soft rubber spongefonfatleastfone face, and being more flexible `v`than .sai-d' handle; and/said' fly swatter' comprising means 4effective 'for holding said flap operatively extended while saidf flyy swatter is beingf'operatively'moved 10. A fly swatter including a flexible rubber iiap lhaving at least one face -ofl rubbery sponge, a relatively stiff handle,- and flap supporting means thinnerandimore flexible than said handle, said means beingr secured' to said. handle and embedded in said flap intermediateits work faces. l

11. In a fly swatter, in combination, a limber apincl'uding two soft sponge rubber slabs,.each

having a skin portion on one face, said. skin. por tions being .cemented .together intermediatev the work faces ofsaidfl-anahandle member external tosaid slabs, and means for operativelyfsecuring. said flap to said handle member, -saidsecuring means including-v Vva` widened extension of: -said handle-.member thinner than said 4flap,said extension being embeddediin said ap rbetweensaid skin;v portions toi abe. tightly |embraced.-ithereby,v

said skin portions vcooperating with said extension to help stiffen said limber flap.

12. A fly swatter including a handle and a flap, said ap being formed of soft sponge rubber, and having a rind arranged between the Work faces of said ap, said handle having an extension embedded in said ap against said rind and terminating short of the outer end of said flap, said flap being constructed to press said rind tightly against said extension for cooperation therewith for helping sustain the portion of said flap disposed beyond said extension operatively extended on said handle.

13. A ily swatter comprising a stii handle, a forafrninated flap of yielding, cellular sponge rubber, a stifiening device stronger than said cellular rubber embedded in said iap and secured to one end `of said handle, and means for fastening said yielding flap firmly on said handle for assuring accurate movement of said flap by said handle.

14. A fly swatter comprising a stiff Wire handle, a ap of yielding, cellular sponge rubber, and means for fastening said yielding flap firmly on said Wire handle for assuring accurate movement of said flap by said handle, said means including at least one bent portion of said handle embedded in said flap and rind-like means carried by said fdap for gripping said bent portion.

15. A detachable rubber flap device for a ily swatter handle, said ap device including a ap having at least one face formed of sponge rubber, a flexible stiffener embedded in said flap between the work faces thereof, and a connecting means 'between said stiffener and said handle, said connecting means being permanently and firmly fastened to said stifener and being constructed for releasable engagement with said handle.

16. A fiy swatter including a Wire handle, a flap comprising two abutting slabs of soft sponge rubber, each slab having a rind portion on its inner face, and an extension of said Wire handle arranged between said slabs for stiffening said flap and securing it to said handle, said extension having at least one bent portion disposed in the plane of said flap, said rind portions being secured, one to another, for engaging said bent portion tightly so that impact strains coming on said ap are transmitted through said rind portions to said handle extension.

17. A ily swatter comprising a handle, a ap of soft sponge rubber more flexible than said handle, and means for holding said ap operatively extended on said handle While said fly swatter is in use.

WILLIAM W. LILLARD.

Mii 

